"A key objective is to explore and promote the contributions made by these post-war, black music performers, songwriters, musicians and industry personnel."

BASS CULTURE

BASS CULTURE

"...the words bass culture has evolved to transcend any individual genre to reflect (directly or indirectly), a connection to Jamaican music."

ABOUT

Bass Culture is the title given to a new three-year AHRC research project that explores the culture, history and legacy of Jamaican music in Britain. Originating in the UK as the title of Linton Kwesi Johnson’s 1980 album, the words bass culture have evolved to transcend any individual genre to reflect (directly or indirectly), a connection to Jamaican music.

Within Bass Culture Research, the term denotes music born out of the impact and influence of Jamaican music in Britain over the last six decades. Through a series of collaborations between academics, the music industry, community researchers and the general public, the project will investigate and share, this history and contribution to the culture and heritage of Britain.

WHO WE ARE

We are an interdisciplinary group of researchers, and practitioners providing a mix of academic and industry expertise. Our focus is the largely undocumented musical experience, of black and minority ethnic communities in the UK.

OBJECTIVES

A key objective is to explore and promote the contributions made by these post-war, black music performers, songwriters, musicians and industry personnel. Our first large-scale project is focused on developing a better understanding of the role played by Britain’s Caribbean community, in a story that remains largely invisible in accounts of popular music, but a story hidden in plain sight. We’ve titled this project “Bass Culture” and we apply this heading as an umbrella term, framing the impact of Jamaican music on Britain over the last sixty years.

As the black music canon is extensive, a key objective of the Black Music Research Unit (BMRU) is to provide a central hub for existing projects and new research. In addition the BMRU is mapping and signposting existing projects within the subject area.

We’re constantly extending our network of industry and community partners, so if you're able to help and wish to get involved, contact Mykaell Riley at m.s.riley@westminster.ac.uk.

DEFINITION FOR THE TERM BASS CULTURE

The first published use of the term was as the title of Linton Kwesi Johnson’s 1980 album. The words ‘Bass – Culture’ have since evolved to transcend any individual genre to reflect, (directly or indirectly), music born out of the impact and influence of the Jamaican community and Jamaican music on Britain.

Part of the work at the BMRU, has been the academic appropriation and repositioning of the term Bass Culture, to describe the intersection between Jamaican and British popular music since the late 1950s. In the last few years the term has further evolved, to reflect the international impact of this British music experience.

NETWORK OF PROFESSIONALS AND CONTRIBUTORS

Over the years we’ve developed a network of professionals and contributors that support the need for academic research and development of the subject area.

'What the Deejay Said: A Critique from the Street!'Dr William (Lez) Henry - 'What the Deejay Said: A Critique from the Street!', the first book by a Reggae Dancehall Deejay. http://www.drlez.co.uk/home

Lloyd BradleyOne of the major British writers on black music publications include 'Bass Culture: When Reggae was king...and Sounds Like London...'

Dennis BovellMusician producer and creator of 'Lovers Rock', the first indigenous genre from the British Jamaican community in the 1970s.

Joy EllingtonHead of Marketing and Promotions at Green Sleeves Records UK, the largest independent reggae label in the world.

Menalik SabazPioneer of black independent filmmaking in the UK. His film Lovers Rock showcases British reggae during the 70s and early 80s.

Delroy WashingtonCEO at Federation Of Reggae Music (FORM) UK. His organization focuses on reggae as heritage, targeting the elders within the Caribbean community.

Adrian BootDirector of urbanimage.tv, the largest collection of reggae images. As principal photographer for "Island Records" he has photographed reggae for over 35 years. His website now serves as the primary resource for images reflecting this area of music.

Alex Pascal MBEOne of the founding fathers of the Notting Hill Carnival. He was also part of the team behind the birth of Britain's most popular black newspapers 'The Voice', and was amongst one of the first regular black radio voices on BBC Radio London.Email: alexpascall@yahoo.com

KwakuKwaku is a writer and journalist and also the founder and editor of britishblackmusic.com, one of the longest standing community-led discussion forums on the subject of black music in Britain.

Paul GoodwinCross Cultural Curator at Tate BritainPaul developed 'Re-visioning Black Urbanism', a new research initiative that explores new modes of inhabiting, imagining and making cities from progressive black and culturally diverse perspectives.